You may know that "music works", but HOW does it work?

Visit my webpage (click here) for some great Music Therapy resources! Find diagnosis specific FACT SHEETS, links to videos on evidenced based research on Music Therapy, frequently asked questions on Music Therapy, links to the works and research of Oliver Sacks (including case study based books, writings, and movies), and more.


Jessica

Man in the Can - The Life of a Dreamer (Autism Awareness)

Well, this got my heart! 

Patrick lost his job and both of his parents, but he never gave up on his dream. Here's a little smackeral of autism awareness and inspiration for ya! (click on the video link below) 

Keep on singing,

Jessica

What Happens to Your Brain Under the Influence of Music? (Article by: Alasdair Wilkins)

"From the perspective of neuroscience, listening to music is one of the most complex things you can do. Many parts of your brain have to work together to comprehend even the simplest tune. So what is music really doing to our minds?" 

Hello Friends!

What a great article! This is an easy read with good concrete biological evidence/ examples (without being too overwhelming)!  Click here for the whole article.  Below are some at-a-glance bullet points ... good stuff! 

Jessica

• The prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and many parts of the temporal lobe all go into our ability to recognize the tone of a given piece of music. Taken all together, this means that music already brings in three out of four of the lobes of the human brain - frontal, parietal, and temporal
• (So what about the fourth lobe? Yep, even the Occipital is engaged ... ) Another intriguing side-effect of listening to music is the activation of the visual cortex, found in the back of the brain in the occipital lobe. 
• Part of the reason that music tends to be so meaningful to us is that it's deeply intertwined with memory.
• And let's not forget the language aspect of music. Obviously, not all songs have lyrics, but those that do draw upon the language centers of the brain. The two main parts of the brain associated with language are Wernicke's area and Broca's area, the former of which is found in the temporal lobe while the latter is in the frontal lobe. 
• Previous research has tended to indicate that Wernicke's area is more crucial to language comprehension, while Broca's area is more tied up in language production, though it now appears that there's significant overlap. In any event, we can add them to the list of brain regions tied up in music comprehension.
• A good song can trigger a cascade of secondary responses, often involuntarily. An obvious example of this is the propensity to move in time with music - not so much dancing, which is an active, independent process, but simple motions like tapping one's toe along with the song. This is caused by stimulation of neurons in the motor cortex.
• Even better, the brain hangs onto the ability to understand the emotional impact of music, even if the finer points of comprehension are lost. One study, for instance, focused on a woman with damage to her temporal lobe - and, by extension, her auditory cortex - that made it impossible for her to comprehend different melodies and other basic parts of musical structure. Even so, she was still able to read the basic emotional content of the music, respond appropriately to "happy" and "sad" music in turn.

-Alasdair Wilkins 

Click here to read the whole article

Community Night

Hello to my Friends at Healing Farms - 

I just read the below message from your blog, and wanted to tell you that I was glad to be there with you all last Wednesday evening.  Thank you for inviting me to share some (somewhat improv) music therapy with you.  It was a massive group, yes, but it all worked out ;) You are a sweet group of people, offering something priceless to our friends who came.  I, also, was certainly grateful to have been able to get the attention of the majority of the group, considering the numbers! I loved seeing how excited and willing they all were to participate ... to see that sheer joy in some of their faces was beautiful.  It's pretty amazing ... the way that a group of volunteers and professionals are working together to provide something that will make these folks feel special, and they are the ones that make us feel special. 

I saw one of our friends at the Blessing of the Fleet this past weekend.  He recognized me, and came up to say hello.  He just seemed so happy, and that made me happy. 

Anyhow, thank you for a great experience, and keep doing what you are doing!
Jessica


Friday, May 14, 2010


As if it could get any better!


So, our first Community Night was amazing, who would have ever thought that it could be topped?! Learning a lesson from last month, when I saw 84 people registered I added 10 more to that number. Expecting a little less than 100 people, I set up the tables, chairs, lemonade etc.


Though we were a little short on volunteers due to illness, I still thought we'd have plenty of people to ensure that our guests enjoyed their time with us. Then 6:00 came...


by 6:30 the 4000 sq foot room was completely full. David said the blessing and added an extra prayer asking God to multiply the food! By 7:00 we had over 140 people eating, laughing, singing and enjoying the company of one another. When music therapist, Jessica Grooms arrived to lead the group in song, she quickly adjusted her agenda and (along with her helpers from CSU) somehow got the attention of the whole room.


We learned new songs, met new friends and had an awesome time.


Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers for having open hearts, smiling faces and willing spirits! Join the fun next month, just let me know how many people to expect!
- Healing Farm Ministry

"Music Therapy Glimpses" - Motor Coordination ... and more!

Here's a great glimpse into music therapy work for coordinating movement, spacial awareness, motor strength, quality of movement, multi-tasking, and mid line/cross lateral work ( ... all while having fun!)



Jessica

*** See other vidoes in this blog series collection "Music Therapy Glimpses" (see blog history under 'videos')

"Music Therapy Glimpses" - Music Therapy: Kenny's Story (autism)

Well, friends, here's the deal ...

As you know, I dedicated last week to showcasing some great music therapy videos each day on my blog.  These gave great 'glimpses' into music therapy treatment (and as mentioned, there are also some impostor 'music therapy' videos out there as well).  HOWEVER, I found so many good ones that they naturally spilled over into this week.  So, I guess I am dedicating 2 weeks of blogging to this!

Here's another great clip:



Jessica

"Music Therapy Glimpses" - Music Therapy with Traumatic Brain Injury

I hesitated to include a longer video here, but this one is easy to watch because of the progression it shows of one client's progress in music therapy.  This client suffered a traumatic brain injury.  You can see how music therapy is being implemented to work on 1) speech/language, 2) motor coordination, 3) fine motor strength, 4) coordinating left hemisphere and right hemisphere tasks, 5) quality of movement, 6) balance, and overall regaining lost skills. 



Jessica

"Music Therapy Glimpses" - Music Therapy and Cancer Diagnosis

Jessica

"Music Therapy Glimpses" - Counting by 5s

Here's a great clip I found of a portion of a music therapy session.  You can see, clearly, the goal here was to work on teaching/supporting cognitive skill (counting by 5s).  This activity would benefit in other areas as well such as 1) auditory processing/following auditory cues, 2) impulse control/waiting for auditory prompt, 3) speech/language (development, clarity, and fluency), and 4) visual attention and attention span.

Thank you to the music therapist who posted this!
Jessica

"Music Therapy Glimpses" - ODETTA at the Music Has Power™ Awards

WOW! In a recent music therapy search on youtube, I found some amazing accounts of music therapy in action.  Of course, there are the impostors, too, but I enjoyed just soaking all the good stuff in! There are a good many more samplings of MT on youtube than the last time I searched. 

I have decided to showcase some of the good ones here on my blog.  I will dedicate this week to "Music Therapy Glimpses".  Check back each day for daily videos!

I want to open with a video clip of the great ODETTA as she presents at the "Music Has Power™ Awards".  I will follow up each day with video clips of actual music therapy clips/music therapy songs in sessions/session clips/etc.




Jessica

Music Therapy slideshow (for SCEAPA presentation)

For those of you who attended the SCEAPA meeting in Columbia this past Wednesday, here is the slideshow from my PowerPoint presentation on "Music Therapy for Children with Autism".  Thank you all, again, for allowing me to present.  Thank you, also, for your interest in the field as well as the warm welcome you gave me!

Jessica

Music Therapy and Autism webinar

"Where Words Fail, Music Speaks"

Hello everyone! I wanted to share with you something that I am pretty excited about.  You've heard me mention Autism Hangout before in past postings.  Autism Hangout is a website created to provide support and resources for those in the autism community. 

Craig Evans, a fellow musician and host to the Autism Hangout site, invited me to speak (via webinar) on Music Therapy and Autism.  We did the webinar interview this morning, and he already has it posted on the site.  The heading/title of the webinar is "Where Words Fail, Music Speaks".

It is a 10 minute webinar that touches on some introductory points about Music Therapy as it relates to ASD treatment.  Craig and I have discussed plans for expansion of this, and look forward to creating a series of webinars under Music Therapy and Autism.  These future webinars will give a little more in depth look at the use of music therapy techniques to support specific needs of a person on the spectrum (i.e. speech, development, supporting cognitive skill/concepts, sensory input/integration, social skill development, etc).

Thank you, Craig, for Autism Hangout as it is a wonderful resource, and thank you for allowing me to contribute!

Visit http://www.autismhangout.com/default.asp to view the video, along with some other great resources.

Jessica

Putumayo new song collection/CD Jazz Playground

About Jazz Playground


Included is a colorful new kid-friendly booklet!
"On March 9th, Putumayo Kids will add to its acclaimed Playground series with the release of Jazz Playground, a new collection of international jazz songs for children. From bebop and swing to Latin and African jazz, this multicultural CD celebrates the vibrant diversity and global influence of jazz and will get the whole family grooving!"        - Putumayo Playground website
      
For more info and TO LISTEN TO SOUND CLIPS OF THE SONGS, visit http://www.putumayo.com/en/putumayo_kids_catalog_item.php?album_id=1004

I am not the bigges Jazz fan, but love several of the songs in this collection.  Several of them provide a really great solid beat ... makes you want to move! I also adore #10 The Mighty Buzzniks • Agree & Disagree - (Australia).  This really is a great song for showing that we can still get along regardless of what we may or may not have in common, and that's it's ok to have differences.  This is a great concept for any of us, but I immediately thought of some of my little clients who have autism (tolerance for change/different ways of doing things) as well as some of my adolescent clients (self image, individuality).

Jessica

Music Therapy and Mental Health

What is Music Therapy?

Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. It is an established health service similar to occupational therapy and physical therapy and consists of using music therapeutically to address physical, psychological, cognitive and/or social functioning for patients of all ages. Because music therapy is a powerful and non-invasive medium, unique outcomes are possible. In addition to its applications in mental health, music therapy is used successfully in a variety of additional healthcare and educational settings.

How Does Music Therapy Make a Difference for Persons with Mental Health Needs?

Music therapy is an efficacious and valid treatment for persons who have psychosocial, affective, cognitive and communicative needs. Research results and clinical experiences attest to the viability of music therapy even in those who are resistive to other treatment approaches. Music is a form of sensory stimulation that provokes responses due to the familiarity, predictability and feelings of security associated with it. Music therapy for clients with mental health concerns uses musical interaction as a means of communication and expression. The aim of therapy is to help individuals develop relationships and address issues they may not be able to address using words alone. Music therapy sessions include the use of active music making, music listening, and discussion.
 
Click on the links below to view full (4 page) summary on MT and Mental Health.  This includes general goal areas, treatment outcomes, and references to resources for extended research.

Music Therapy and Mental Health

Here's another great link (this is a great one that goes into a little more detail) :

Music Therapy in Mental Health— Evidence-Based Practice Support 

Jessica

Listen to Music Therapy from around the world

Are you interested to hear how music therapy sounds around the world?

I recently received an email from MT ENews about WFMT (World Federation of Music Therapy).   On the WFMT site is a section entitled "Sound Board", and I just had to share this wonderful resource with you!!!

The WFMT Sound Board allows you to listen to "how music therapy sounds around the world" (WFMT, MT ENews).  Various Music Therapists around the world have uploaded sound files (via WFMT), capturing therapeutic moments of music therapist's clinical work.  So, you are able to listen to samples from actual music therapy sessions in various regions of the world. It was really amazing to hear similarities and differences of different regions.  I just love this! I encourage you to visit http://www.wfmt.info/WFMT/Sound_Board.html to experience this!


The World Federation of Music Therapy, Incorporated (WFMT) is the only international organization dedicated to the development and promotion of music therapy world wide and was established at the 5th World Congress of Music Therapy in Genoa Italy, in 1985. The principal objective of the WFMT is to act as the International Organization for the profession of music therapy and to:

• Promote the exchange of information on music therapy.
• Hold international congresses.
• Identify similarities and distinguishing features of the theory and practice of music therapy throughout the world.
• Establish and maintain guidelines for:
• the practice of music therapy. the education and training of music therapists.
• the ethical conduct of music therapists.
• professional registration.
• research in music therapy.
• Promote international cooperation among music therapy associations, music therapists and other related professional groups.
• Promote the official recognition of music therapy as a profession with various governmental legislative and/or regulatory bodies.
• Promote, establish, and maintain professional publications in music therapy.
• Promote all aspects of research in music therapy.    

                                                                                            - WFMT


Enjoy!
Jessica

Quake survivor played music in his mind

Quake survivor played music in his mind

"In the darkness that followed, Haitian-born violinist Romel Joseph thought the earthquake that shook his Port-au-Prince music school to pieces was a dream.

Born partially blind, his recollections relied on his stronger senses."

Find the rest of this wonderful article at Cincinatti.com.  A bitter sweet article, but another instance on the power of music and it's ability to reach anyone, anywhere.

Jessica

Music and Attention

I wanted to dedicate today's blog to a recent journal article that I read in the Journal of Music Therapy (spring 2009 edition, Vol. XLVI No.1). This article is entitled The Use of Music with Young Children to Improve Sustained Attention during a Vigilance Task in the Presence of Auditory Distractions. It is co-written by Laura K. Noguchi, MA, MT-BC and David E. Wolfe, PhD.

The irony is that as I am writing this blog, I have been sitting in a coffee shop getting some work done on my laptop. I am a bit under the weather today which has caused me to feel very fatigued and somewhat easily distracted with trouble concentrating on the tasks before me. All the extraneous noises you would find in a coffee shop (blenders, microwaves, talking, music) are especially distracting to me today. It is these moments when I pull out my headphones, and allow my music to drown out the noises. I am then able to concentrate more on what I am doing. Also, I have found that there are certain types of music that are distracting to me. I have created a play list entitled "laptop work" which contains songs that are conducive to my own concentration. I find that songs that have a certain deep and personal meaning to me can be distracting. I also find that songs with lots of changes (chord changes, tempo changes, etc) can be distracting to me as well.

So, my own coffee shop experience at this moment serves as an example to me of what this article is trying to relay.

I intend to cover this article in greater detail in the upcoming October 2009 MT Newsletter, but for now I just want to touch on some points.

What is attention?

"Attention, by definition, is a cognitive process that relates to immediate, at the moment, experience of an individual; a state of current and selective awareness. It is an act of directing the mind to objects or events that necessitate careful observing or listening." (Pashler, 1997)

This article mentions that since music is "an auditory medium consisting of an organized sequence of continuous, on-going sounds (and silence), most reference to the term attention/attentiveness will require listening, i.e., attending, to sounds across time".

In reference to a series of studies by Madsen and his colleagues, Madsen & Geringer (2000-2001) state that "many people enjoy listening to music, but their attention to music wanes appreciably after the initial stimulus ...". Actual concentration on music begins to decrease, and the music takes on the role of " 'background' in their cortical attentiveness" (pp..104-105), and "in order to increase vigilance, the listener needs to be directed to attend to specific events within the music and to actively respond to those events." (Wolfe and Noguchi, 2009).

In this article, Wolfe and Noguchi conduct a study consisting of kindergarten students ( N=76, more details in upcoming mention in Oct 09 MT Newsletter). These students were randomly assigned to one of four groups/conditions:

1) spoken story with no distraction (SND; n =21)

2) spoken story with distraction (SD; n =18)

3) musical story with no distraction (MND; n = 17)

4) musical story with distraction (MD; n = 20)

Significant results were found. What are your assumptions (or hypothesis, if you will)? What do you think results indicated, and more importantly, why?

As mentioned, I will follow up with more details as well as findings in the upcoming October 2009 MT Newsletter.

Oh how thankful I am for my "laptop play list"! What a tool music can be when utilized and implemented effectively ... even when it is something as simple as "background music".

Jessica

Madsen, C.K., & Geringer, J.M. (2000-2001). Meaningful listening and focus of attention. A model. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 147, 103-108.

Pashler, J.E. (1997). The psychology of attention. Cambridege, MAS: MIT Press.

Wolfe, D.E., & Noguchi, L.K. (2009). The Use of Music with Young Children to Improve Sustained Attention during a Vigilance Task in the Presence of Auditory Distractions. Journal of Music Therapy, XLVI (1), 2009, 2-14.